Remember the sacrifices
Thumbs up to everyone involved in the Memorial Day services held Sunday and Monday in Jackson County. And a related thumbs up to the many youth and adult volunteers who placed American flags on the graves of the veterans buried in Jackson County cemeteries in the days leading up to Memorial Day. The holiday is important because it serves as a reminder of the sacrifices many servicemen and servicewomen have made so all could enjoy the freedoms this country offers.
Committed to agriculture
Thumbs up to members of the Moenning family, who recently received a Hoosier Homestead Award from the Indiana State Department of Agriculture for the family’s commitment to Indiana agriculture. With the property at 3361 E. County Road 150N, Seymour, being used for farming since it was purchased by Gerhard Moenning in 1851, it qualified for the Sesquicentennial Award for more than 150 years of ownership and Centennial Award for more than 100 years of ownership. Besides continuous ownership, a Hoosier Homestead farm also must consist of more than 20 acres or produce more than $1,000 in agricultural products per year. Those attending the awards ceremony at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis were brothers Raymond and Richard Tormoehlen; two of Raymond’s children, Staci Rogers and Stan Tormoehlen; and Rogers’ daughter, Whitney Rogers. Staci Rogers is the fifth owner of the house.
Making memories
Thumbs up to retired Brownstown Elementary School teacher Becky Baker for holding onto time capsules created by some members of the Brownstown Central High School Class of 2022 when they were fifth-graders in her class seven years ago. Since most of us have trouble holding onto our cellphone for very long, it’s hard to imagine how Baker, who retired in 2019 after 43 years of teaching, was able to keep those time capsules nice and safe all these years.
Wall of famers
Thumbs up to the newest members of the Seymour High School Wall of Fame: Dan Deputy, Class of 1970; Richard “Dick” Elmore, Class of ’55; John Hayden Emhuff, Class of ’54; Dr. Eric Fish, Class of ’92; Teri Moren, Class of ’87; and Teresa Wessel, Class of ’78. Inductees plan to meet with students and speak during a convocation Aug. 26. That evening, they will be officially inducted during a private dinner for family and friends and will be introduced during halftime of that night’s football game when the Owls take on Jeffersonville. Elmore died in March 2019, while Emhuff passed away Feb. 10 of this year.
State bound
Thumbs up to Brownstown Central High School senior Dustyn Kocsis, who qualified for the state track and field meet in the discus after placing third May 26 at the Bloomington North Regional. He will throw Saturday at the meet at Indiana University in Bloomington.
Sectional and regional champs
Thumbs to the Trinity Lutheran High School softball team for winning the Class A Sectional 62 championship May 27 by defeating New Washington 11-1 at Henryville. The Cougars followed that up by winning the regional championship Tuesday after defeating West Washington 5-2 at home. It marks the first regional title in Trinity softball’s program history. Members of the Cougars’ postseason roster are Ally Russell, Amanda Finke, Grace Lance, Olivia Cain, Samantha Enzinger, Madison Keith, Hannah Kerkhof, Morgan Brewer, Isabella VanCuren, Kamzi Gross, Bailey Tabeling, Dianna Munoz, Jasmine McCormick and Taylar Hobbs. Trinity is coached by Bob Tabeling. The Cougars will be competing in the semistate semifinal Saturday against Hauser at North Daviess High School at 10:30 a.m. The championship game will be later that day at 7 p.m.